What Is Maize?
Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Uganda about 1000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that when fertilized yield kernels or seeds, which are fruits.
How Much Is A Bag Of Maize In Uganda?
The price in Uganda Shilling is UGX 985.6 per kg.
What Was So Important About Maize In Uganda?
Maize is most significant in terms of agronomy and world wide economic impact. Maize produces good crops in various climatic zones and it prospers in areas too dry for rice and too wet for wheat; thus fitting into a niche between the two.
What Do You Know About Maize In Uganda?
Maize is an annual grass in the family Gramineae, which includes such plants as wheat, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, and sugarcane. There are two major species of the genus Zea (out of six total): Zea mays (maize) and Zea diploperennis, which is a perennial type of teosinte.
What Is The Main Crop Of Maize In Uganda?
It is predominantly a Kharif crop with 85 percent of the area under cultivation during the season. Maize is the third most important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. It accounts for around 10 percent of total food grain production in the country.
What Conditions Does Maize Need To Grow In Uganda?
Maize is grown in temperatures between 18°C and 27°C during the day and around 14°C during the night. But the most important factor is the 140 frost-free days. The crop is very susceptible to frost; therefore, its cultivation in temperate latitudes is limited.
What Are Uses Of Maize In Uganda?
Maize is generally used for animal feed. It is widely processed into various types of products such as cornmeal, grits, starch, flour, tortillas, snacks, and breakfast cereals.
Where Does Maize Grow In Uganda?
The predominant maize growing states that contributes more than 80 % of the total maize production are Andhra Pradesh (20.9 %), Karnataka (16.5 %), Rajasthan (9.9 %), Maharashtra (9.1 %), Bihar (8.9 %), Uttar Pradesh (6.1 %), Madhya Pradesh (5.7 %), Himachal Pradesh (4.4 %).
What Are The Benefits Of Growing Maize In Uganda?
As well as providing good financial returns, maize offers a number of other benefits including
Improved soil organic matter levels.
Reduction in weed pressure.
Reduced insect, disease and nematode pressure.
Increased nutrient availability.
Maize silage.
Maize grain.
How Does Maize Grow In Uganda?
Maize is sown in rows, 60-75 cm apart, whereas the plants in the row are spaced at 20 to 25 cm. A population of 60-75 thousand plants per hectare at harvest are required for obtaining the optimum yield. Sowing in rows is generally done with drill or by dropping the seed behind the plough.
In Which Months You Will Sow Maize In Uganda?
It is a Kharif crop and thus it grows best in the rainy season. In India, the rainy season starts in the month of June and ends in the month of September. Thus, maize is grown from June to September in Uganda.
How Many Times Is Maize Planted In A Year In Uganda?
Crop Rotation with Maize Crop
Maize can be grown as a single crop in a year or 2-3 crops in the same year because both short and long duration varieties of the crops are available. In areas where maize is grown as a mixed crop, crops that are of short variety are grown between the tall maize plants.
How Long Does Maize Take To Mature In Uganda?
Maize can take from 60 to 100 days to reach harvest depending upon plant variety and the amount of heat during the growing season.
Which Soil Is Best For Maize In Uganda?
Editorial team. Corn needs loose soils that offer proper aeration and drainage and at the same time maintain sufficient amounts of water close to roots. Too heavy or too sandy and poorly drained soils are not suitable. In general, the plant prefers pH levels higher than 5,5.
Does Maize Need A Lot Of Water In Uganda?
Maize is quick, vigorous and tall growing crop having broad leaves , therefore its water requirement is exceptionally high. A vigorous growing maize plant requires about 2-3 litres of water per day during peak growing period or an average consumptive use of water varies from 2.5 to 4.3 mm/day.
What Is The Best Way To Plant Maize In Uganda?
Maize seed should be drilled to a uniform depth and into moisture. Soil temperatures should by 8C first thing in the morning for four to five consecutive days for maize to grow. The last 10 days of April should see all maize drilled, but climate will obviously depend on location.
Which Is The Best Fertilizer For Maize In Uganda?
Nitrogen: Nitrogen is the most important nutrient and role player in the growth, yield and quality of maize crops. Nitrogen fertilizer is essential to promote good leaf growth. Smaller leaves result in reduced photosynthesis, a process required for starch storage in the grain.
What Is The Life Cycle Of Maize In Uganda?
The maize plant’s life cycle consists of two key developmental phases: the vegetative phase (V phase) and the reproductive phase (R phase).
What Is The Disadvantage Of Maize In Uganda?
The biggest issue with maize is its susceptibility to aerobic spoilage, so it’s worth applying an additive that can deal with this. This may contain chemical preservatives, specific bacteria or plant extracts, all designed to inhibit yeasts and moulds during ensiling and feed-out.
Why Do Farmers Grow Maize In Uganda?
Most maize is used as silage for animal feed, especially for dairy cattle, but increasingly maize is being grown as an energy crop for anaerobic digesters (AD) that are subsidised from public money to produce gas for fuel. Maize produces high yields, both per hectare as a crop and per cubic meter of biogas.
How Long Does Maize Take To Germinate In Uganda?
During germination, the stem and growth point are 25mm to 40mm below the soil surface. In warm, moist conditions seedlings emerge after six to 10 days; under cool or dry conditions, this may take two weeks or longer.
What Are The Features Of Maize In Uganda?
Maize is a tall, determinate, annual C4 plant varying in height from <1 to >4 meters producing large, narrow, opposing leaves, borne alternately along the length of a solid stem.
Maize Biology.
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Family | Poaceae |
| Genus | Zea |
| Species | mays |